Publisher's Summary

Audie Award Nominee, Biography and Memoir, 2013
As one of the greatest rock icons of all time, Gregg Allman has lived it all and then some. For almost 50 years, he's been creating some of the most recognizable songs in American rock, but never before has he paused to reflect on the long road he's traveled. Now, he tells the unflinching story of his life, laying bare the unvarnished truth about his wild ride that has spanned across the years.
The story begins simply: with Gregg and his older brother, Duane, growing up in the South, raising hell with their guitars, and drifting from one band to another. But all that changed when Duane and Gregg came together with four other men to forge something new - a unique sound shaped by soul, rock, and blues and brimming with experimentation; a sound not just of a band, but of a family.
Bringing to life the carefree early days of the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg holds nothing back - from run-ins with the law to meeting girls on the road, from jamming at the Fillmore East to experimenting with drugs. Along the way, he goes behind the scenes of some of greatest rock music ever recorded, without shying away from the infamous and painful deaths of his brother, Duane, and Allman Brothers bassist Berry Oakley. Speaking for the first time about the profound impact that his brother's death had on him, Gregg offers a tribute to Duane that only a younger brother could write, showing how, to this day, he still confronts the grief of losing his big brother, even as Duane continues to guide and inspire him.
Setting the record straight about the band's struggles in the face of death, Gregg shows how the decision to persevere came with a heavy price. While the rock-and-roll excesses of drugs, alcohol, and personality clashes led to a series of breakups that culminated with the band's permanent reunion in 1989, Gregg fought his own battle with substance abuse, going to rehab no less than 11 times and floating through a string of failed marriages, including his tabloid-frenzied relationship with Cher, before finally cleaning up once and for all.
Capturing the Allman Brothers' ongoing, triumphant resurgence as well as his own recent fight against hepatitis C, Gregg presents a story as honest as it is fascinating, providing a glimpse inside one of the most beloved and notorious bands in the history of rock music and demonstrating how, through it all, the road goes on forever.

Inside one of rock music's greatest bands

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The Allman Brothers Band is one of my all time favorites so I was eager to learn anything I could about what led to such music. If you don't care for the music, the story of Gregg Allman will not be that interesting.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was a fitting ending. Greg Allman was resigned to his own mistakes and turned to religion after a life that seemed rather devoid of much deep thinking.

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

The performance was very good. This is what I think it would have sounded like in the author's voice.

Could you see My Cross to Bear being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Not really.

Any additional comments?

I was intrigued by the author's lack of insight into the pain and harm he had caused to others. For instance, when his roadie was busted and imprisoned for trafficking drugs for him, Gregg Allman basically said "He knew what he was doing." But GA does not reflect on the fact that if he (GA) had not had a desperate need for drugs and sent his roadie out to score them, the bust would not have happened. I love the music and would have liked to have discovered that the leader of the band (post-Duane) was more likeable.

Customer Reviews

not a beautiful mind

I had a five minute crush on bGregg Allman. I thought he was probably interesting. This book disabused me of that notion.

Would you recommend My Cross to Bear to your friends? Why or why not?

I would have to tell anyone hoping to hear an interesting take on Gregg or the Allman brothers not to listen to this. Turns out his ego and his sense of wonderment at himself makes him unlikeable and frankly disappointing. What a shame!

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Will Payton read it well

Do you think My Cross to Bear needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Definitely not. This is all you need to know about a man who really shouldn't have any friends left...... I would prefer one of his band members memoirs next time around.

Any additional comments?

We are all human and fallible. However Gregg writes with false modesty and justifies much of his moral failing on others. Not nice.